Publications
NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.
2024
Authors
Jean-Claude Grégoire Jochem Bonte Andy Bourke Dragos Cocos Nick Fielding Jostein Gohli Daegan Inward Maartje Klapwijk Christo Nikolov Bjørn Økland Martin Schroeder Florentine Spaans Jozef Vakula Max Blake Rafael De Andrade Moral Maria Destefanis Christine Griffin Andrej Kunca Archie Murchie Cathal Ryan Aoife Smith Hugh F. EvansAbstract
Six species of Ips de Geer (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; Scolytinae) occur in Europe. They attack weakened or dead conifers but may become aggressive and mass-attack living trees. All species have expanded their ranges in Europe since the late 19th century. Here, we analyse the patterns of this spread and discuss the factors at play. Starting with an assessment of distribution changes of the insects and of their host trees since the nineteenth century, we describe how and, when known, why territorial changes occurred in Fennoscandia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland), Central Europe (Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Austria, Germany), the Netherlands, Belgium and Great Britain. Based on these country narratives, we discuss the conditions for, and causes of, territorial expansion. A necessary condition is the presence of host trees of vulnerable ages and sizes, resulting from the post-glaciation expansion of host range. Population changes and territorial expansion are influenced by environmental or anthropic drivers: climatic events (droughts and storms), silvicultural practices and trade. Three main factors favour or hamper the response of the different species to these drivers: active and passive flight capacity, dispersal upon emergence and response to pheromones after take-off, and pre-dispersal mating. These criteria enable identification of differences in the invasive capacities of the six species. In particular, Ips typographus appears to be a poor invader worldwide because of its wide dispersal upon emergence and its delayed response to pheromones. Finally, we discuss the risks to the Irish forests so far uncolonised by Ips species.
Abstract
Europe’s Earth Observation programme for climate and environmental monitoring, Copernicus, provides ready-made thematic layers in the form of High-Resolution Layers (HRL). Examples include Water and Wetness, Small woody features, Grassland and Imperviousness. These datasets are freely available and comparable across Europe, but are they of high enough quality to be useful in national monitoring? In a collaborative project between Norway and Poland, we tested the accuracy and usefulness of these products for environmental monitoring, either alone or in combination with national data. We identified several challenges, ranging from errors in the data, difficulties finding information needed in the verification work, issues related to definitions and thresholds and the time-lag before data are available. However, the work also highlighted gaps and weaknesses in the national geographic datasets. We conclude that there is a clear need for the CLMS products. We advise caution in using the products until they have been improved but see that they have great potential for future use in environmental monitoring.
Abstract
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Authors
Randi Berland FrøsethAbstract
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Authors
Jihong Liu ClarkeAbstract
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Authors
Ralf RautenbergerAbstract
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This paper reports on a study investigating the viability and senescence of plum ovules when exposed to different constant temperatures over two years. The research was conducted on the primary and secondary ovules of four plum cultivars: ‘Mallard’, ‘Edda’, ‘Jubileum’, and ‘Reeves’. The results show that the first indication of ovule viability loss was callose accumulation, which was detected using the fluorescent dye aniline blue. All cultivars had viable ovules, in different percentages, at 8 °C on the twelfth day after anthesis. However, at higher temperatures, distinct patterns emerged, indicating the adaptability of each cultivar at certain temperatures. The first indication of callose accumulation became visible at the chalazal pole. After anthesis, the ovule’s ability to remain viable gradually reduced, followed by callose deposition throughout the ovary. The cultivars ‘Edda’ and ‘Reeves’, from 6 days after anthesis onward, in both years, showed the highest percentage of nonviable ovules. In contrast, the ‘Jubileum’ cultivar demonstrated the highest percentage of viable ovules. The loss of viability of secondary ovules followed a similar pattern to that of the primary ovules in all cultivars. This research provides valuable insights into embryological processes, which can help in the following breeding programs, and to cultivate plum cultivars in Western Norway’s climate conditions.
Authors
Mika Helene Kirkhus Håvard Kauserud Vigdis Vandvik Ella Thoen Ane Vollsnes Aud Helen Halbritter RechsteinerAbstract
The boreal, alpine, and arctic heaths and forests are dominated by dwarf-shrubs along with their symbionts, ericoid mycorrhizal fungi. Dwarf-shrubs are sensitive to climate change and are already affected in large-scale diebacks. It remains to explore how their mycorrhizal symbionts mitigate damages, since little is known about these plant-fungal interactions. Ericoid mycorrhizal fungi are known to aid the host plant with nutrient uptake, but little research exists on their dealings with drought, suggesting a major knowledge gap. A better overview of belowground ericoid fungi at different drought levels might help predict future climate-change induced damage. In our study we aim to find out if and how drought affects ericoid mycorrhizal fungal communities, and pinpoint key species related to drought mitigation.
Authors
Mika Helene Kirkhus Håvard Kauserud Vigdis Vandvik Ella Thoen Ane Vollsnes Aud Helen Halbritter RechsteinerAbstract
The boreal, alpine, and arctic heaths and forests are dominated by dwarf-shrubs along with their symbionts, ericoid mycorrhizal fungi. Dwarf-shrubs are sensitive to climate change and are already affected in large-scale diebacks. It remains to explore how their mycorrhizal symbionts mitigate damages, since little is known about these plant-fungal interactions. Ericoid mycorrhizal fungi are known to aid the host plant with nutrient uptake, but little research exists on their dealings with drought, suggesting a major knowledge gap. A better overview of belowground ericoid fungi at different drought levels might help predict future climate-change induced damage. In our study we aim to find out if and how drought affects ericoid mycorrhizal fungal communities, and pinpoint key species related to drought mitigation.
Abstract
Forest management planning often relies on Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS)-based Forest Management Inventories (FMIs) for sustainable and efficient decision-making. Employing the area-based (ABA) approach, these inventories estimate forest characteristics for grid cell areas (pixels), which are then usually summarized at the stand level. Using the ALS-based high-resolution Norwegian Forest Resource Maps (16 m × 16 m pixel resolution) alongside with stand-level growth and yield models, this study explores the impact of three levels of pixel aggregation (stand-level, stand-level with species strata, and pixel-level) on projected stand development. The results indicate significant differences in the projected outputs based on the aggregation level. Notably, the most substantial difference in estimated volume occurred between stand-level and pixel-level aggregation, ranging from −301 to +253 m3⋅ha−1 for single stands. The differences were, on average, higher for broadleaves than for spruce and pine dominated stands, and for mixed stands and stands with higher variability than for pure and homogenous stands. In conclusion, this research underscores the critical role of input data resolution in forest planning and management, emphasizing the need for improved data collection practices to ensure sustainable forest management.